Teach Soap

Even though I haven't been soaping for long I seem to have accumulated a decent amount of soap supplies. Some of my supplies are rather bulky (like my scale and my MP/CP cutter), while others are oddly shaped (like my silicone and candy molds). The apartment I live in is in a 2 family that is over 100 years old so to say I lack storage space is an understatement. There's only 3 closets!! Currently I have one shelf dedicated to my soap supplies, but I'm constantly fighting with boxes and bags trying to find what I need which causes me to take forever just to set up my supplies every time I want to make soap.

So how does everyone do it? Where do you keep your soap supplies and how do you store them so that you can find what you need easily? I would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or even see some pictures!!

Thanks!
~Tara~

Like you I have very limited space. We have pretty much converted our dining space to soaping storage and work area. I bought a matching set of bookcases from a resale store and put one one each side of the dining room window. Another resale store find was a custom built (tiger wood) CD cabinet. I put it next to one of the bookcases. I use the CD cabinet for storing my oils and smaller items. With the help of some wire shelf racks (kinda like cooling racks) I have a curing rack (yes I lined it so the soap isnt sitting on the wood). I use my solid surface stove and my huge 24 inch counter top for a work space. I cover my cook top with this before starting work. I also bought one of these to expand my work space and storage, it gets stored in front of the window and between the bookcases. . I live in a small single wide mobile home so I have to get creative with how to maximize my space.

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Dawn

I have a 4-drawer dresser that I use to store my smaller bottles of oils, my FOs (in drawer organizers by type-florals, fruits, etc); my molds and colorants. My coconut & palm oils come in buckets, so I can stack them on top of the dresser along with my OO and castor oil. I keep my pots, stickblender, scale, etc. in a lidded bin that I just carry into the kitchen whenever I want to make soap.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I love reading how all of us are making space for our hobby/love/obsession! Very creative, space-efficient ideas .

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Carrie
Wife to my Best Friend and Homeschool mom to 7 beautiful gifts

My stuff is all over the house! I have a 3-shelf wire rack in the kitchen, three-shelf bookshelf in the hallway and a huge four-shelf wire rack from The Container Store in one of the bedrooms. I'd REALLY like a dedicated room for all of this stuff!

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www.facebook.com/Semplice-Naturals

I use a tiny hallway closet for my FOs, colorants, cavity molds, MP/other bases and packaging supplies. The FO/EO's take up almost two shelves, colorants in plastic storage boxes, molds on one, a shelf for bases and herbs, random stuff on the bottom. (Oh, and some quilts on the very top shelf, hehe.)

I have a pretty wide 4-tier coated-wire shelf (from Ace hardware) in my kitchen for most of my CP supplies like oils/butters, lye, loaf molds, containers, utensils, safety equipment, and the top shelf for curing soaps with cardboard box pieces to "line" the shelf. I use plastic storage boxes to keep all the bottles and bags organized on the shelves.

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Laura<3

I got a 5 shelf plastic snap together unit from walmart, fits right at the end of my kitchen beside my deep freeze, and behind the door. I put most stuff in boxes on the shelf but label the outisde of the boxes with what's in them. I have rectangular tupperware containers that I use for my FO's. I have a larger box that I use for my m&p bases and all my different molds, and that just sits in our kitchen, it's easy to move around if it's in my way.

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~Krystal~
Sweet Destiny Candle Company

Should I cackle? Since I totally have a workshop! Or would the cackle be too much? I pick up lots of storage containers and organizers from places like Five Below, Big Lots, and the $1 section at Target. I also picked up a counter organizer for my spoons and whisks from the summer clearance section at Target. This is a GREAT time of year for things like plastic bowls and cups, summer clearance!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Dawn

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

I have half a closet for my soap stuff, which doesn't sound like much but it has a nice organization thingy inside with drawers and stuff so it holds a lot. I'm starting to outgrow it though! I'm hoping that soon I can prompt my hubby to help me make a space in our garage for my soaping stuff.

Wow, thank you so much for all of the responses!! I was looking into a system last night from the container store that I'm in love with, but boy is it expensive!! Currently the closet I am using for my soaping is also being used to store my stockpile and even that needs a better storage solution!! The only way I could get a dedicated soaping room would be in our basement, but it is unfinished so that would take a lot of time and effort to spruce up to make it decent enough to make soap. I'm thinking for now I may get some plastic storage containers to place similar items in that way I might be able to find things more easily.

Also, where does everyone store their soaps to cure? I'm nervous about my soaps being exposed to the open air and any dust that may settle during the curing time.

Mine will be on wire racks in what used to be the closet of my workshop. It had the doors removed before my Husband and his parents purchased the house, and the wire racks were installed by the previous owner. We are going to add a few more though, since they only need to be about 6 or 7 inches apart. Right now they are on a shelf in the spare bedroom.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Do you line the shelves with anything so that the soaps don't get any marks on them? I've only done CP once, but my family was so in love with my soap that they keep bugging me to make more!! I'm just nervous because we have cats in our house so I need to put the soaps somewhere so the cats can't get to the soap and no cat hair will get on the soap!! lol